ilk dress that's just to lie down in. She looks like a queen
in it, and yet she looks like a little girl, too, for her hair is done
in two braids. Her hair comes way down below her waist like your
mother's hair. And when I gave her the little silver heart, she was
so pleased with it. She put it right on and it looked sweet. She
said she would much rather wear it on a black velvet ribbon than on
a silver chain."

"Everything's come out all right, hasn't it?" Maida said with
ecstasy.

"I guess it has. Now I must go. I want to be sure to be there when
the baby wakes up. I asked my mother when you could see the baby,
Maida, and she said to-morrow. I can't wait to show you its feet--you
never did see such little toes in your life."

Exciting as this event was, it was as nothing to what followed.

Granny and Maida were still talking about Rosie's happiness when
Billy Potter suddenly came marching through the shop and into the
living-room.

"Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!" they all said
at once.

"Granny," Billy asked immediately, "if you could have your choice of
all the Christmas gifts in the world, which one would you choose?"

An expression of bewilderment came into Granny's bright blue eyes.

"A Christmas gift, Misther Billy," she said in an uncertain tone; "I
cudn't t'ink of a t'ing as long as Oi can't have me little Annie wid
me."

Maida saw Billy's eyes snap and sparkle at the word Annie. She
wondered what--Could it be possible that--She began to tremble.

"And so you'd choose your daughter, Granny?" Billy questioned.

"Choose my daughter. Av coorse Oi wud!" Granny stopped to stare in
astonishment at Billy. "Oh, Misther Billy, if you cud only foind
her!" She gazed imploringly at him. Billy continued to smile at her,
his eyes all "skrinkled up." Granny jumped to her feet. She seized
Billy's arm. "Oh, Misther Billy, you _have_ found her," she
quavered.

Billy nodded. "I've found her, Granny! I told you I would and I
have. Now don't get excited. She's all right and you're all right
and everything's all right. She'll be here just as soon as you're
ready to see her."

For a moment Maida was afraid Granny was going to faint, for she
dropped back into her chair and her eyes filled with tears. But at
Billy's last words the old fire came back to her eyes, the color to
her cheeks. "Oi want to see her at wance," she said with spirit.

"Listen," Billy said. "Last night I happened to fall into